Dorothy Campbell, Jerome Travers, Walter Travis
Dorothy Campbell
Dorothy Campbell was born March 20, 1883, in North Berwick, Scotland, and raised near the town's famous links course, circumstances that set her on a path to golfing dominance at home as well as in the United States and Canada.
Between 1905 and 1912, Campbell won 10 national championships in the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S., including the 1909 U.S. Women's Amateur in her first attempt and the '09 Ladies British Amateur, making her the first player to win both championships in the same year. She won the U.S. Women's Amateur again in 1910 and a third time in 1924 at age 41, still a record as the oldest champion.
Campbell, who also competed under her married names, Howe and Hurd, was struck by a train and died in Yemassee, S.C., December 20, 1945. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1991.
Jerome Travers
Known as a fierce match play competitor and one of the game's finest putters, Jerome Travers enjoyed a brief burst of success that puts him alongside some of America's best all-time amateur players.
Born May 19, 1887, in New York, Travers was introduced to golf at an early age. In a nine-year stretch starting in 1906, Travers won four U.S. Amateurs, five Metropolitan Amateurs and the 1915 U.S. Open - the second of five amateurs ever to win that championship. His national amateur crowns, second only to Bob Jones, came in 1907, '08, '12 and '13. Inexplicably, Travers never entered another U.S. Open after his one-stroke victory over Tom McNamara at Baltusrol Golf Club.
Like Jones, he ceased competing at age 28, though he later became a teaching pro. Travers died in Connecticut March 29, 1951. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976.
Walter Travis
Although he didn't pick up the game until age 34, Walter Travis became one of the most influential figures in the early years of American golf as a champion golfer, course architect, instructor and writer.
Born January 10, 1862, in Maldon, Australia, Travis, a successful hardware businessman, had little interest in golf until a visit to England in 1896 but quickly became one of America's finest players. Nicknamed "The Old Man" because of his late start, Travis won three U.S. Amateurs, in 1900, '01 and '03. In 1904 at Royal St. George's, he became the first player from America to win the British Amateur.
In addition to his playing skills, Travis wrote about the game and founded The American Golfer magazine. He was an innovator as a course designer and instructor, and he was a pioneer in using new playing equipment.
Travis died July 31, 1927, in Denver. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1979.